On March 22, a federal judge ruled that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must address the overuse of antibiotics in farm animals. The fact is, factory farms feed drugs like those in the penicillin family to animals even when they’re not sick. The drugs are used to speed up the animals’ growth and compensate for their unsanitary and overcrowded conditions, which are major breeding grounds for illnesses. Indeed, the same drugs that we take when we are sick are routinely fed to healthy animals!

The FDA Fails to ProtectMore than 30 years ago, the FDA first discovered the overuse of antibiotics creates drug-resistant bacteria that can spread to humans and cause hard-to-treat illnesses. So far, the FDA has failed to follow through on its findings. This new ruling will now require the FDA to withdraw its existing approvals for routinely using penicillins and tetracyclines on farm animals unless the farming industry provides evidence that their use does not threaten human health.

Did You Know…?Almost 80% of all antibiotics sold in the U.S. are fed to food animals. In addition to its impact on animal welfare, the misuse of antibiotics also affects our own lives. If we want to keep antibiotics working for us, we must keep industrial farms from abusing them. The ASPCA applauds this recent court decision—not only for human health, but also in hopes that it will help ensure cleaner, more humane living conditions for animals on farms.

Look who came to visit! Actress Amy Smart, currently starring in the HBO series Shameless, spent a few hours at our NYC offices on Monday helping launch the PetArmor® Protection Promise, a national flea and tick prevention awareness campaign that helps shelter pets in need. Now through May, anyone can participate by "liking" PetArmor on Facebook. For every "like" received, PetArmor will donate a dose of its bestselling flea and tick treatment (up to 20,000 doses) to the ASPCA or the shelter of the participant’s choice.

"As an animal rescue advocate and proud dog mom, I am so excited to be working with the ASPCA and PetArmor® on this wonderful campaign that supports a cause I care so deeply about," said Smart. "I encourage pet owners everywhere to participate in the Promise and help ensure all pets receive the protection they need."

Guest blog post from Nancy Perry, Senior Vice President of ASPCA Government Relations.

Did you know that the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is the federal agency in charge of protecting our country’s wild horses and burros? Enacted more than 40 years ago, the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act states that the federal government is required to protect wild horses while balancing their presence on rangelands with commercial activities of humans and the needs of other wildlife.

Unfortunately, in the 40 years that the BLM has been managing our wild horses, we have seen a continuous cycle of roundups and removals with little regard for the welfare of these living creatures.

Taking Action on Capitol Hill I was recently invited to testify before the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior and the Environment to discuss the importance of protecting wild horses.

My testimony focused on four main requests. We asked the committee to 1) reinstate language to prevent the sale for slaughter and mass euthanasia of wild horses, 2) prohibit removal of more horses and burros than can be adopted, 3) prioritize on-range management of wild horses and burros, and 4) require the swift creation of standard operating procedures for humane, transparent roundups, if any are to occur.

As I spoke to the committee, I could see their obvious disgust at the descriptions I provided of recent roundups, during which: - Foals were forced to run extreme distances, losing their hooves. - Horses were driven to physical exhaustion. - Horses and burros were physically assaulted with helicopter skids. - Electric prods were used on wild horses by BLM staff or contractors. - Horses were kicked and beaten with lunge whips. - Metal gates and panels were slammed into horses. - Horses' tails were twisted and pulled during loading.

Looking Ahead Congress oversees federal agencies to ensure that government services are delivered appropriately and fairly, and it can direct agencies like the BLM to reform programs that are not working as they should. The BLM has indicated a willingness to examine parts of its wild horse program and we hope they will work with us to make needed changes.

For now, we are encouraged that both the BLM and Congress are open to input from the ASPCA and other animal protection organizations regarding the plight of these majestic animals.

On your mark, get set, go orange! One of the ASPCA's most important events is the celebration of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month. Each year, we urge supporters across the country to Go Orange for Animals throughout April—the month in 1866 when the ASPCA's charter was signed—to raise awareness for our cause.

Go ahead, visit the special Go Orange section of our website to see how you can get involved in the celebration. From creating grassroots fundraising events to entering our latest online photo contest to outfitting yourself and your furry friends with the finest orange designs —the possibilities are endless!

Join us for April's Go Orange for Animals campaign—together we can improve the lives of animals in every corner of the country. Go Orange! Glow Orange! Show Orange for Animals!